Apparatus for coiling textile sliver

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for coiling sliver through a coiler head, in which the sliver is guided downwardly into and through an inclined tube rotating on a substantially vertical axis, and the sliver is advanced through the tube by nippingly engaging and applying a pulling force to the sliver at a point adjacent the lower end of the inclined tube. Further, the tube is tapered to form an inclined converging passage which progressively compacts the sliver in its course through the tube.

United States Patent Johns [54] APPARATUS FOR COILING TEXTILE SLIVER[75] inventor: Herman S. Johns, Patterson, NC.

[73] Assignee: Wellman Industries, Inc., Johnsonville, SC.

[22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 99,352

Related US. Application Data 1 [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.46,866, June 17,

1970, abandoned.

[52] 11.8. C1. ..l9/159 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 54/80 [58] Field ofSearch ..19/157, 159 R, 159 A [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,562,864 2/1971 Osgood et a1. ..19/159 R 1 June5, 19733,218,677 11/1965 Denis et a1 ..l9/157 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,109,985 2/1966 Great Britain ..19/159 R 1,075,831 10/1954 France19/159 R 110,078 5/1925 Switzerland ..19/1'50 131,141 8/1919GreatBritain ..l9/159R Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney-Parrott,Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for coiling sliverthrough a coiler head, in which the sliver is guided downwardly into andthrough an inclined tube rotating on a substantially vertical axis, andthe sliver is advanced through the tube by nippingly engaging andapplying a pulling force to the sliver at a point adjacent the lower endof the inclined tube. Further, the tube is tapered to form an inclinedconverging passage which progressively compacts the sliver in its coursethrough the tube.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR COILING TEXTILE SLIVER Thisapplication is a continuation-impart of my copending application Ser.No. 46,866, filed June 17, 1970, now abandoned and entitled METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING COMBED TEX- TILE SLIVERS,

Most textile coilers currently in use in the textile industry areprovided with inclined coiler tubes rotating about a substantiallyvertical axis for receiving and guiding textile slivers downwardly andoutwardly so as to form coils of sliver in respective sliver cans orother containers therebeneath. A pair of driven calender rolls usually.is provided adjacent the ingress end or mouth of the coiler tube toadvance the sliver therethrough by a downward pushing force. Generally,the slivers being processed are of relatively small cross-sectional areaas compared to the cross-sectional area of the sliver passage defined bya coiler tube, so that the sliver may be advanced through the coilertube quite easily.

Recent developments in the textile industry have not only dictated thatlarger slivers be coiled into sliver cans than has normally been thecase, but they have also indicated a need for relatively closelyconfining the sliver in its course through a coiler mechanism so as toimprove the control of the sliver and keep it compacted to some extentso that a greater amount of sliver may be packed into a sliver can ofgiven size than has normally been expected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for coiling sliver through a coiler head whereinthe sliver is guided axially downwardly into the open upper end of aninclined coiler tube rotating about a substantially vertical axis, andwherein the sliver is nippingly engaged and pulled downwardly by a pairof calender rolls positioned adjacent the open lower end of the coilertube and serving to advance the sliver through the coiler tube.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus of'the characterlast described wherein the coiler tube is tapered along its lengthinternally thereof to provide an inclined downwardly converging passagefor the sliver serving to apply a progressively increasing compactingforce to the sliver in its course through the coiler head so that thesliver can be coiled in a sliver can in a more compact condition.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated,others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a coiler head embodying theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the coiler head omitting thesliver feeding'means and the uppermost sliver guide ring shown in FIG.1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, as illustrated, the textilecoiler head embodying the invention is designed to accommodate arelatively large, heavy tow or sliver of textile fibers, such as wool orworsted sliver weighing at least several thousand grains per yarn; e.g.,up to about 9 ounces or more per yard. Although the coiler head isespecially designed to accommodate the sliver guiding means ofthisinvention, it is to be'understood that the novel features of thecoiler to be described hereinafter are applicable to otherwiseconventional coilers of either the planetary type, in which both thespectacle and the coil forming member rotate relative to each other, orthe standard type, in which the spectacle remains stationary and thecoil forming member rotates within the spectacle.

The coiler head shown in the accompanying drawings is fully disclosed inmy said copending application Ser. No. 46,866 and is described more indetail in my later copending application Ser. No. 81,738, filed Oct. 19,1970 and entitled APPARATUS FOR COILING STRAND MATERIAL SUCH AS TEXTILESLIVER, whose disclosures are, therefore, incorporated herein byreference.

Portions of a textile coiler are shown in FIG. 1 and include posts 20which support a frame 23 of a coiler head broadly designated at 24 andbeneath which a substantially cylindrical, rotary sliver can orcontainer C is positioned during the coiling of sliver S thereinto. Asshown, coiler head 24 comprises a substantially horizontally disposedspectacle 25 and a platform 26 spaced above spectacle 25. As best shownin FIG. 2, a rotary coil forming member or circular coiler plate 27, ispositioned in a corresponding opening provided in spectacle 25. Coilerplate 27 overlies sliver can C, and the lower surfaces of spectacle 25and coiler plate 27 are substantially flush with each other. Coilerplate 27 is of substantially lesser diameter than sliver can C, and thesubstantially vertical rotational axis of coiler plate 27 is off-setrelative to the axis of sliver can C. Coiler plate 27 is provided withan eccentrically positioned sliver delivery opening or passage 30therethrough which may be circular as shown in FIG. 2 and into andthrough which a strand of sliver S is directed by calendering means, tobe later described, for coiling the sliver into the rotating sliver canC.

By means of a plurality of circularly arranged spacing .bars or posts31-34, coiler plate 27 is secured to and suspended from a substantiallycircular rotary support plate 37 also serving as a calender roll supportplate. Rotary support plate 37 is of greater diameter than coiler plate27, and is suitably secured to the upper surface of an annular, inner,rotary race member 40 whose peripherally grooved outer surface isengaged by a circular series of balls 41 (FIG. 1) which also engage theinner peripherally groovedsurface of an annular, outer, stationary racemember 42. Thus, race members 40, 42 and balls 41 form collectively ananti-friction bearing for supporting support plate 37 and coiler plate27. The stationary outer race member 42 is suitably secured to coilerhead frame 23.

A pair of substantially horizontally disposed, spaced apart andsubstantially parallel reinforcing bars 44 are suitably secured uponsupport plate 37 and extend upwardly therefrom through a substantiallycircular opening 45 formed in platform 26 and which may be of about'thesame diameter as coiler plate 27, butis of substantially lesser diameterthan support plate 37. A generally rectangular coiler tube support plate46 is suitably secured to the upper surfaces of reinforcing bars 44 andhas an upstanding coiler tube bracket 47 suitably secured thereto;

Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the upper portion of bracket 47is a downwardly and outwardly inclined, tapered, coiler tube 50 whichdefines a downwardly and outwardly inclined and converging sliverguiding passage therethrough. The smaller, open, lower end of tube 50terminates above and closely adjacent a lower sliver condensing ring 51positioned eccentrically of the rotational axis of coiler plate 27. Itshould be noted that the internal diameter or cross-sectional area ofeach the lower open end of tube 50 and ring 51 is considerably less thanthe original cross-sectional area or diameter of the sliver S at itapproaches the coiler head. Ring 51 is spaced above and substantiallyaligned with sliver delivery opening 30 of coiler plate 27, and may beloosely positioned in a suitable opening provided therefor in coilertube support plate 46. Lower sliver condensing ring 51 is, in turn,carried by a suitable bracket 53 suitably secured to coiler tube supportplate 46.

An intermediate sliver guiding or condensing ring 55 (FIG. 1) issupported in substantially concentric relation to the substantiallyvertical axis of coiler plate 27 and positioned closely adjacent theupper or ingress end of coiler tube 50. Further, an upper sliver guidingand condensing ring 56 is spaced above and disposed in substantiallyaxial alignment with intermediate ring 55. All of the sliver condensingrings 51, 55, 56 preferably are made from or coated with a smoothceramic material.

The sliver guiding or condensing rings 56, 55, 51 are of progressivelysmaller internal diameter, in that order, and of less internal diameterthan the normal or original diameter of the sliver S as it approachesupper ring 56 so that the condensing rings apply a progressivecondensing force to the sliver S in its course into and through coilerhead 24. It can thus be seen that the rings 56, 55 serve to applysuccessive spaced apart zones of progressively increasing,circumscribing and relatively light compacting force to the sliver whileguiding the same downwardly in a generally axial path toward a rotarysliver-coiling component embodied in coiler plate 27. Condensing rings51, 55 may be of about the same internal diameter as or of slightlylesser internal diameter than the respective lower and upper ends of thepassage defined by coiler tube 50.

It is to be noted that the internal cross-sectional areas of thecondensing rings are such that they are engaged about their entire innerperipheries by the sliver S and, although the internal cross-sectionalarea of ring 55 may be slightly less than that of the upper end ofcoiler tube 50, the natural expansion of the sliver upon passing throughring 55 is such that the sliver fills the tube 50 and is compactedthereby substantially, if not entirely, throughout passage of the sliverfrom the upper end to the lower end of tube 50.

In the processing of a large worsted sliver weighing in the range ofabout 9 to 27 ounces per yarn (about 3,937 to 11,812 grains per yard),for example, it has been found that the internal diameters of rings 51,55, 56 should be about two one-half inches, four inches and six inches,respectively, and that the internal diameters of the lower and upperends of coiler tube 50 should be about two one-half to three inches andfour one-half inches, respectively. Thus it can be seen that thecross-sectional area of the sliver is reduced considerably in its coursethrough condensing rings 56, 55, coiler tube 50 and lower condensingring 51. In other words, in its course between the upper condensing ring56 and the lower condensing ring 51, the crosssectional area of thesliver is reduced to about one-fifth of that cross-sectional areathereof when it passed through upper condensing ring 56. Also from thetime any given portion of the sliver S passes through the intermediatecondensing ring 55 until such portion emerges from lower condensing ring51, the crosssectional area of such portion is reduced to less thanone-half of the cross-sectional area thereof when it passed through theintermediate condensing ring 55. It is apparent that, in the coiling ofsmaller slivers, a generally proportionally smaller coiler tube 50 andcondensing rings 51, 55, 56 would be used.

The intermediate and upper sliver condensing rings 55, 56 are looselysupported in respective ring-like flanged brackets 60, 61. Bracket 60 issuitably secured to the upper end of coiler tube 50 and also has thelower, smaller, end of a downwardly converging frustoconical funnel 62suitably secured thereto in alignment with the upper end of tube 50. Thelarger upper end of funnel 62 preferably surrounds the lower portion ofbracket 61, and the cross-sectional area of the open lower end of funnel62 is about the same as that of the upper end of the passage in tube 50,to aid in guiding sliver S from ring 56 to ring 55 and into coiler tube50. Upper bracket 61 may be suitably secured to a funnel portion 63 of aconveyor frame 64.

The egress portion of conveyor frame 64 is carried by arms 65 suitablysecured to and extending upwardly from coiler head frame 23. Conveyorframe 64 rotatably supports a pair of upper and lower rollers 66, 67,and the egress portion of a driven endless conveyor belt is mounted onlower roller 67 to serve as means for deliverying sliver S from asuitable source, not shown, into coiler head 24. From the foregoingdescription it is apparent that funnel 62, lower ring-like bracket 60,coiler tube 50, coiler tube support plate 46, and calender roll supportplate 37 rotate in concert with coiler plate 27. A suitablefrustoconical cover 68, preferably in the form of a pair ofsubstantially frustoconically segmental sliding doors, may be suitablysupported on platform 26 so as to enclose the coiler tube 50 and itssupport plate 46 therein.

The condensing rings 55, 56 preferably are loosely mounted in thebrackets 60, 61 so that they may be turned about their axis in eitherdirection in accordance with any twisting or gyrating of the sliverpassingtherethrough so as to reduce frictional resistance of these ringsto the passage of the sliver therethrough. Additionally, theintermediate sliver condensing ring 55 serves as ceramic guide meansinterposed between funnel 62 and coiler tube 50, and through which thesliver S passes, so as to reduce abrasive frictional forces acting onthe sliver in its change from axial downward movement to an outward pathof travel as the sliver passes from funnel 62 into coiler tube 50.

Carried by calender roll support plate 37, and disposed between lowersliver condensing ring 51 and sliver delivery opening 30 of coiler plate27, is a calendering means, comprising a pair of calender rolls 74, 75,for receiving and advancing the textile sliver S through sliver deliveryopening 30. As shown, each calender roll is frustoconically shaped.However, cylindrical calender rolls may be used, if desired. Calenderrolls 74, may be supported with their longitudinal axes extending insubstantially horizontal and substantially radially convergingrelationship toward the substantially vertical, predetermined,rotational axis of coiler plate 27. Additionally, calender rolls 74, 75are mounted for orbital rotation with and about the vertical axis ofcoiler plate 27.

Since coiler head 24 is particularly useful for coiling large wool orworsted slivers into coiler cans, although not limited thereto, it ispreferred that calender rolls 74, 75 are driven at the same relativesurface speed but independently of each other so as to avoid slippage orscuffing of the stock therebetween. Therefore, calender rolls 74, 75 aremounted on respective substantially horizontally disposed calender rollshafts, 76, 77 journaled in respective pairs of bearing blocks 80, 81;82, 83 suitably secured to and depending from calender roll supportplate 37. Since both shafts 76, 77 extend substantially radially withrespect to the axis of coiler plate 27, shaft 77 is relatively short ascompared to the length of shaft 76. This is also desirable toaccommodate the drive of rolls 74, 75 in opposite directions relative toeach other.

Drive means is provided for rotating coiler plate 27, support plates 37,46, coiler tube 50, bracket 60 and funnel 62 about a commonsubstantially vertical axis. Such drive means also rotates calender rollshafts 76, 77 during orbital movement of calender rolls 74, 75 about theaxis of coiler plate 27. Accordingly, a suitable gear box 90, securedupon spectacle 25, is connected through gearing 91 to a motor-drivenspeed variator 92. Since speed variators are well known, a detaileddescription thereof will not be given herein.

A rotary drive shaft 94 extends forwardly from gear box 90, overlies therear portion of platform 26 and has a pinion 110 fixed thereon, shown inthe form of a sprocket wheel, whose lower portion extends through anopening 111 in platform 26 and engages an annular rack or ring gear 112.Gear 112 is suitably secured to the upper surface of, and isconcentrically arranged with respect to, calender roll support plate 37.Conveniently, gear 112 may be in the form ofa relatively thin annularplate provided with a circular series of equally spaced radiallyextending slots 112a therethrough engageable by the teeth of sprocketwheel 110. If desired, slots 1 12a may be formed in calender rollsupport plate 37, in which case, annular plate 112 may be omitted.

It is thus seen that pinion l transmits rotary motion to coiler plate 27and associated parts while imparting orbital movement to calender rolls74, 75 about the axis of coiler plate 27. At the same time, rotation isimparted to calender rolls 74, 75 about their own respective axes, bymeans of a pair of pinions 115, 116 shown in the form of sprocketwheels. Pinions 115, 116 are fixed on the respective calender rollshafts 76, 77 and their upper portions engage substantiallydiametrically opposed portions of a stationary annular rack or gear 117carried by platform 26. As shown, gear 117 is in the form of a circularseries of equally spaced radially extending slots formed in platform 26adjacent the periphery of circular opening 45. The slots of rack 117define teeth therebetween engageable with sprocket wheels 115, 116.

It is thus seen that, during orbital movement of calender rolls 74, 75with clockwise rotation of coiler plate 27 in FIG. 2, pinions 115, 116are rotated through engagement thereof with stationary rack 117 toimpart.

rotation to the respective calender rolls 74, 75 in opposite directionsrelative to each other. Calender roll support plate 37 is provided. withan opening 120 therethrough, through which the upper portions ofcalender rolls 74, 75 and pinion 116 extend so that the nip of calenderrolls 74, 75 is positioned closely beneath lower sliver condensing ring51.

Since both calender rolls 74, 75 are driven independently of each other,as is preferred, and either or both calender rolls must yield toaccommodate and gripthe sliver S therebetween, one or the other, orboth, calender rolls 74, 75 or shafts 76, 77 should be yieldably supported. By way of example, either or both of the calender rolls 74, 75may be constructed in the manner disclosed in my said later copendingapplication Ser. No. 81,738, wherein each calender roll of a pair is inthe form of a tubular shell mounted on its shaft by means of a resilientmaterial, such as natural or synthetic rub ber, between the shell andthe shaft, thus permitting lateral displacement of the shell relative toits shaft by strand material passing between the adjacent calenderrolls.

In operation, it can be seen that the open sliver S in its normalsomewhat expanded state is introduced into the coiler head 24 by firstbeing guided through and lightly condensed by the upper condensing ring56 spaced axially above the rotary coil forming member 27. Asheretofore'described, as the sliver passes through the upper condensingring 56, the ring may readily turn on its axis in accordance with anytwisting or gyrating of the sliver. The sliver then passes through thefunnel 62 and is further lightly condensed through the intermediatecondensing ring at the entrance to inclined coiler guide tube 50. It isapparent that the rings 56, 55 apply progressively increasing,relatively light, circumscribing compacting force to the sliver upstreamof the open upper end of the inclined guide tube. It is to be noted thatthe sliver is advanced successively through the condensing rings 56, 55,coiler tube 50 and lower condensing ring 51 by virtue of the calenderrolls 74, 75 nippingly engaging and applying a downward pulling force tothe sliver at a point adjacent the open lower end of the tube 50 andwhile the sliver is guided axially downwardly and free of any nip pres.-sure thereon into the larger open upper end of the tube.

As the sliver is pulled through the tube 50, the size of the tuberelative to the sliver and the tapered form of the passage defined bythe tube are such that the tube applies a gradual progressivelyincreasing compacting force to the sliver in its course fromtheintermediate guide ring 55 to the calender rolls, which compactingforce is augmented by the lower condensing ring 51. Thus, by the timethe sliver reaches the calender rolls 74, 75, the sliver is compacted toabout onehalf or less than one-half of the original size thereof when itwas upstream of the upper condensing ring 56 so that the sliver may becoiled into sliver can C in a more compact condition.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

I claim:

cent the upper end of said coiler tube for guiding and lightlycompacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage, saidpassage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reduce thecross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through said passage,bracket means rotatable with the upper end of said coiler tube, saidbracket means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring and permittingthe same to gyrate independently of said coiler tube under influence ofthe sliver passing through said sliver guide ring, and a pair of drivencalender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage forengaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

2. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including a downwardlyconverging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lowerend of about the same cross-sectional area as the internalcross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring. I

3. A textile coiler according to claim 2, including means supportingsaid funnel for rotation with said coiler tube.

4. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including an additional sliverguide ring spaced above and being of greater internal diameter than saidfirst-named sliver guide ring for guiding and lightly compacting thesliver in its course to said first-named sliver guide ring.

5. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including additional guidemeans carried by said coil forming member and positioned between thelower end of said coiler tube and said calender rolls to aid incompacting and guiding the sliver passing from said sliver guidingpassage to said calender rolls.

6. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotationon a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatablewith said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined andconverging sliver guiding passage, guide means positioned above saidpassage for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downwardcourse into said passage, said passage being adapted to graduallyprogressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliverin its course through said passage, said guide means comprising a sliverguide ring spaced a substantial distance above the upper end of saidcoiler tube, means loosely supporting said sliver guide ring to permitgyration of said sliver guide ring by the sliver passing therethrough,and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end ofsaid passage for engaging and pullingthe sliver through said'passage.

7. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotationon a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatablewith said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined andconverging sliver guiding passage, a downwardly converging frustoconicalfunnel mounted for rotation with and positioned above and in alignmentwith said coiler tube, the internal cross-sectional area of the lowerend of said funnel being about the same as that of the upper end of saidpassage for guiding a sliver in its downward course into said passage,said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reducethe crosssectionalarea of the sliver in its course through said passage,ceramic guide means interposed between said funnel and said coiler tubeand through which the sliver passes and serving to reduce abrasivefrictional forces acting on the sliver in its change from a downward toan outward path of travel as the sliver passes from said funnel intosaid sliver guiding passage, and a pair of driven calender rollsadjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging andpulling the sliver through said passage.

8. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotationon a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatablewith said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined andconverging sliver guiding passage, guide means positioned above saidpassage for guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downwardcourse into said passage, said passage being adapted to graduallyprogressively compact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliverin its course through said passage, said guide means comprising a sliverguide ring positioned immediately adjacent the upper end of said coilertube, a downwardly converging funnel above said sliver guide ring andhaving an open lower end of about the same cross-sectional area as theinternal cross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring, means forsupporting said funnel for rotation with said coiler tube, and a pair ofdriven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passagefor engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.

1. In a textile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotationon a substantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatablewith said coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined andconverging sliver guiding passage, guide means comprises a sliver guidering positioned immediately adjacent the upper end of said coiler tubefor guiding and lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course intosaid passage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressivelycompact and reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its coursethrough said passage, bracket means rotatable with the upper end of saidcoiler tube, said bracket means loosely supporting said sliver guidering and permitting the same to gyrate independently of said coiler tubeunder influence of the sliver passing through said sliver guide ring,and a pair of driven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end ofsaid passage for engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.2. A textile coiler according to claim 1, including a downwardlyconverging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lowerend of about the same cross-sectional area as the internalcross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring.
 3. A textile coileraccording to claim 2, including means supporting said funnel forrotation with said coiler tube.
 4. A textile coiler according to claim1, including an additional sliver guide ring spaced above and being ofgreater internal diameter than said first-named sliver guide ring forguiding and lightly compacting the sliver in its course to saidfirst-named sliver guide ring.
 5. A textile coiler according to claim 1,including additional guide means carried by said coil forming member andpositioned between the lower end of said coiler tube and said calenderrolls to aid in compacting and guiding the sliver passing from saidsliver guiding passage to said calender rolls.
 6. In a textile coilerhaving a coil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantiallyvertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coilforming member and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliverguiding passage, guide means positioned above said passage for guidingand lightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into saidpassage, said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compactand reduce the cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course throughsaid passage, said guide means comprising a sliver guide ring Spaced asubstantial distance above the upper end of said coiler tube, meansloosely supporting said sliver guide ring to permit gyration of saidsliver guide ring by the sliver passing therethrough, and a pair ofdriven calender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passagefor engaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.
 7. In atextile coiler having a coil forming member mounted for rotation on asubstantially vertical axis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable withsaid coil forming member and having a downwardly inclined and convergingsliver guiding passage, a downwardly converging frustoconical funnelmounted for rotation with and positioned above and in alignment withsaid coiler tube, the internal cross-sectional area of the lower end ofsaid funnel being about the same as that of the upper end of saidpassage for guiding a sliver in its downward course into said passage,said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reducethe cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through saidpassage, ceramic guide means interposed between said funnel and saidcoiler tube and through which the sliver passes and serving to reduceabrasive frictional forces acting on the sliver in its change from adownward to an outward path of travel as the sliver passes from saidfunnel into said sliver guiding passage, and a pair of driven calenderrolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage for engaging andpulling the sliver through said passage.
 8. In a textile coiler having acoil forming member mounted for rotation on a substantially verticalaxis, a coiler tube carried by and rotatable with said coil formingmember and having a downwardly inclined and converging sliver guidingpassage, guide means positioned above said passage for guiding andlightly compacting a sliver in its downward course into said passage,said passage being adapted to gradually progressively compact and reducethe cross-sectional area of the sliver in its course through saidpassage, said guide means comprising a sliver guide ring positionedimmediately adjacent the upper end of said coiler tube, a downwardlyconverging funnel above said sliver guide ring and having an open lowerend of about the same cross-sectional area as the internalcross-sectional area of said sliver guide ring, means for supportingsaid funnel for rotation with said coiler tube, and a pair of drivencalender rolls adjacent and below the lower end of said passage forengaging and pulling the sliver through said passage.